Structure, expression, and developmental function of early divergent forms of metalloproteinases in Hydra

Metalloproteinases have a critical role in a broad spectrum of cellular processes ranging from the breakdown of extracellular matrix to the processing of signal transduction-related proteins. These hydrolytic functions underlie a variety of mechanisms related to developmental processes as well as disease states. Structural analysis of metalloproteinases from both invertebrate and vertebrate species indicates that these enzymes are highly conserved and arose early during metazoan evolution. In this regard, studies from various laboratories have reported that a number of classes of metalloproteinases are found in hydra, a member of Cnidaria, the second oldest of existing animal phyla. These studies demonstrate that the hydra genome contains at least three classes of metalloproteinases to include members of the 1) astacin class, 2) matrix met-alloproteinase class, and 3) neprilysin class. Functional studies indicate that these metalloproteinases play diverse and important roles in hydra morphogenesis and ce     

Effects of benomyl and drought on the mycorrhizal development and daily net CO2 uptake of a wild platyopuntia in a rocky semi-arid environment

The effects of drought and the fungicide benomyl on a wild platyopuntia, Opuntia robusta Wendl., growing in a rocky semi-arid environment were assessed. Cladode phosphorus content, cladode water potential and daily net CO2 uptake were measured monthly in 2000 and 2001 before, during and after the summer rainy period. During 2000, the formation of new roots and new cladodes was severely suppressed in response to a prolonged drought, impairing the development of the symbiotic relationship between the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and the roots. Hence no effect of benomyl application was observed on daily carbon assimilation by this Crassulacean acid metabolism plant. During 2001, drought was interrupted, and new cladodes and roots were formed in response to rainfall. Benomyl was highly effective in suppressing root colonization by AM-fungi; however, daily C assimilation was reduced by benomyl application only in October. Thus, the inhibition of AM-fungal colonization by benomyl did not affect photosynthesis, water uptake and P uptake under prolonged drought.     

Robusta coffee beans post-harvest microflora: Lactobacillus plantarum sp. as potential antagonist of Aspergillus carbonarius

Coffee contamination by ochratoxigenic fungi affects both coffee quality as well as coffee price with harmful consequences on the economy of the coffee exporting countries for whom which is their main source of income. Fungal strains were isolated from coffee beans and identified as black Aspergilli. Ochratoxigenic moulds like Aspergillus carbonarius were screened and selected for detailed studies. Also lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from silage coffee pulp and their antifungal activity was tested on dual-culture agar plate. Ten of the isolated LAB demonstrated antifungal effect against A. carbonarius. API 50 CH and APIZYM were used to perform phenotypic identification. 16S rDNA sequencing was made to confirm the results.     

The Synaptonemal Complex of Basal Metazoan Hydra:More Similarities to Vertebrate than Invertebrate Meiosis Model Organisms

The synaptonemal complex （SC） is an evolutionarily well-conserved structure that mediates chromosome synapsis during prophase of the first meiotic division. Although its structure is conserved, the characterized protein components in the current metazoan meiosis model systems （Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Mus musculus） show no sequence homology, challenging the question of a single evolutionary origin of the SC. However, our recent studies revealed the monophyletic origin of the mammalian SC protein components. Many of them being ancient in Metazoa and already present in the cnidarian Hydra. Remarkably, a comparison between different model systems disclosed a great similarity between the SC components of Hydra and mammals while the proteins of the ecdysozoan systems （D. rnelanogaster and C. elegans） differ significantly. In this review, we introduce the basal-branching metazoan species Hydra as a potential novel invertebrate model system for meiosis research and particularly for the investigation of SC evolution, function and assembly. Also, available methods for SC research in Hydra are summarized.     

黑轴凤丫蕨复合群的分类修订

凤丫蕨属(Coniogramme Fée)种间界限模糊,存在过渡类型,是蕨类植物中分类比较困难的类群之一。黑轴凤丫蕨(C.robusta(H.Christ) H.Christ)是凤丫蕨属植物中比较特殊的种类之一。本文在标本考证、野外考察和微形态研究的基础上对该种的分类进行了订正。将假黑轴凤丫蕨(C.pseudorobusta Ching et Shing)和新黑轴凤丫蕨(C.neorobusta Ching et Shing)归并到黑轴凤丫蕨。同时对该种下的两个变种黄轴凤丫蕨(C.robusta var. splendens Ching et Shing)和棕轴凤丫蕨(C.robusta var. rependula Ching et Shing)重新定义模式标本。     

大乳头水螅基盘再生进程中过氧化物酶的表达

目的观察大乳头水螅(Hydra magnipapillata)基盘再生进程中基盘过氧化物酶的表达情况,探讨水螅基盘过氧化物酶的生理作用。方法通过ABTS细胞化学染色法显示水螅基盘过氧化物酶的表达。结果水螅基盘再生20h后其基盘过氧化物酶开始出现少量表达,其后过氧化物酶表达量逐渐增加;基盘再生52h后该酶表达量趋于稳定。过氧化物酶仅在基盘周边区域外胚层中表达,而在基盘中央区域(反口孔)外胚层中无表达。结论水螅基盘再生进程中过氧化物酶的表达量逐渐增加直接反映了基盘再生时细胞分化过程,基盘表达的过氧化物酶可能在维持基盘结构的稳定上起一定的作用。     

强壮水螅对凤尾鱼苗的危害

在200mL培养液中放入1～5只强壮水螅(Hydra robusta),然后再放入1只1～7d的凤尾鱼(Coilia mystus)鱼苗,以研究水螅对鱼苗早期生长发育的危害作用。对实验数据的双因素方差分析表明：随着水螅密度的增加,鱼苗死亡率极显著增加,直至鱼苗死亡,而鱼苗平均体重极显著降低;当水螅密度不变时随着鱼龄的增加,鱼苗死亡率极显著降低,而鱼苗平均体重极显著增加。显然,强壮水螅对凤尾鱼鱼苗早期的生长发育有极大的危害作用,但随着鱼龄的增长,危害程度降低,不过仍然影响鱼苗体重的增长。     

Boundary cells of endodermal origin define the mouth of Hydra vulgaris (Cnidaria)

We investigated morphology, dynamics and origin of cells surrounding the mouth of Hydra vulgaris using the monoclonal antibody L96. This antibody recognises a one cell-thick ring of endodermal epithelial cells exactly at the boundary between endoderm (gastrodermis) and ectoderm (epidermis). L96⁺ cells can stretch considerably without any cell rupture during mouth opening. Thus, our data prove the existence of a distinct cell population defining hydra's mouth. A model for mouth opening is proposed and the significance of L96⁺ cells for boundary formation between ectoderm and endoderm is discussed.     

Taxonomy of the European Hydra (Gnidaria: Hydrozoa): a re-examination of its history with emphasis on the species H. vulgaris Pallas, H. attenuata Pallas and H. circumcincta Schulze

The name Hydra attenuata Pallas is currently applied to the wrong animal. The common brown polyp, which is widely called H. attenuata, was described by Pallas (1766) as Hydra vulgaris. The name H. attenuata Pallas originally referred to an uncommon pale polyp, currently known as H. circumcincta Schulze. The history of this confusion is analysed here. The taxonomy of hydra was in disarray during the 18th and 19th centuries, and was clarified in 1917 with the monograph of Schulze. But Schulze misapplied the name for the common hydra, H. vulgaris, to an unusual form and thus was led to assign the name of a rare hydra, H. attenuata, to the common type. Schulze redescribed the rare, pale hydra that Pallas had named H. attenuata as H. circumcincta. The correct name of the common European brown, stalkless hydra is thus H. vulgaris Pallas, 1766. The name H. attenuata has priority for the uncommon pale hydra, but because of disuse of this application of the name, the pale hydra should be recognized by the current, generally accepted binominal H. circumcincta Schulze, 1914.     

EFFECT OF MALTOSE RELEASE ON UPTAKE AND ASSIMILATION OF AMMONIUM BY SYMBIOTIC CHLORELLA (CHLOROPHYTA)1

When incubated at pH 4–5, Chlorella freshly isolated from symbiosis with Hydra viridissima PALLAS 1766 (green hydra) release large amounts of photosynthetically fixed carbon in the form of maltose, and assimilation of inorganic N is inhibited. Physiological responses to N starvation of the cultured 3N813A strain of maltose-releasing Chlorella differed from those caused by 48 h of maltose release induced by low pH. N starvation increased rates of ammonium assimilation at pH 7.0 in light or darkness, and ammonium assimilation in darkness stimulated cell respiration. In contrast, cells pretreated at pH 5.0 to induce maltose release were unable to take up ammonium at pH 7.0 unless supplied with an external carbon source such as bicarbonate, acetate, or succinate, and rates of uptake were similar to control cells. Freshly isolated symbionts displayed a similar dependency. Rates of ammonium uptake by cells pretreated at pH 5.0 were reduced in darkness and did not stimulate cell respiration. N-starved cells supplied with ammonium also showed a large short-term increase in glutamine pools at the expense of glutamate, as might be expected if large amounts of ammonium were rapidly assimilated via glutamine synthetase/glutamate synthase, whereas after long-term maltose release cells showed only a small increase in glutamine when supplied with ammonium. Furthermore, maltose release caused a fall in pool sizes of a number of amino acids, including glutamine and glutamate, and also caused a decrease in pool sizes of 2-oxoglutarate and phospho-enol-pyruvate, which are required for ammonium assimilation into amino acids. Cells stimulated to synthesize and release maltose may be unable to assimilate ammonium and synthesize amino acids because of diversion of fixed carbon from N metabolism. We estimate that 40–50% affixed C is required for maximal maltose synthesis, whereas up to 30% fixed C is required for ammonium assimilation. These results are discussed in the context of host regulation of symbiotic algal growth.